Taking care of children and youth

Welcome to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Specialist in Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) Program for the Maritime Provinces. This two-year program is open to Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Emergency Medicine (EM) or in Pediatrics is designed to instill lifelong learning objectives for trainees.

Our Department of EM includes a Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) based at the region’s a tertiary care pediatric center in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Izaac Walton Killiam (IWK) Hospital. The IWK Hospital is a level-one trauma centre with a helipad and full subspecialty support. This includes a full Cardiac Surgery program and renal transplant program. Approximately 34,000 patients aged 0-16 years are seen annually in our Emergency Department. Patients with mental health issues are seen up to their 19th birthday, and many patients with serious or chronic medical illnesses are also followed to age 19 (and occasionally beyond).

A small program boasts a faculty to resident ratio over 10:1, multiple sites, a vibrant SIM program and several important areas of expertise with national and international caliber educators provides a strong foundation across a range of areas for the development of focal expertise and excellence. Our PEM fellows develop skills and medial expertise both clinically and from a leadership perspective. We focus on a strong foundation of clinical decision-making, consultation and community leadership and medical education. Clinical teaching is augmented by journal clubs, rounds, a strong simulation program (SIM), PoCUS education, a vibrant and national airway program, a toxicology center, several medical education experts and education events in the Departments of EM and Pediatrics welcome our PEM fellows.

There is a very active simulation program at the IWK, led by specialized faculty. The fellow is expected to be a participant on the Trauma Team at the IWK. There is a longitudinal rotation in Pediatric point of care ultrasound (PoCUS) with a PoCUS fellowship trained faculty at the helm. Emphasis in training will also be on encouraging the resident to excel in CanMEDS competencies beyond that of medical expert. The total number of learners in the Pediatric Emergency Department is limited allowing fellows exposure and direct involvement in the highest acuity patients and opportunities to perform procedures without competition from other learners.

Faculty
Our faculty consists of a mix of skilled, highly experienced clinicians, as well as many PEM trained younger faculty who possess additional subspecialized areas of expertise. Several faculty members have or are completing postgraduate degrees, including Master of Clinical Epidemiology, Master of Medical Education and Master of Medical Informatics. We also have staff who are expert in PoCUS including one staff member who holds a fellowship in Pediatric PoCUS.

Research

The Department of Emergency Medicine’s Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) has an active research program that has been steadily growing over the past ten years. Our research is mainly investigator driven and we work collaboratively with both local and national research groups. As members of Pediatric Emergency Research Canada (PERC), we have participated in and have led national studies which help answer questions important to the delivery of safe and high-quality patient care.

Program Curriculum

RCPSC PEM for Pediatrics Trained

Year 1: PEM 6.5 blocks, Peds Ortho 1 block, Peds Anesthesia 1 block, Research 0.5 blocks, PICU 1 block, Peds Plastics 1 block, Elective 1 block, Adult EM 1 block

Year 2: PEM 6.5 blocks, Trauma (Sunnybrook Hospital Toronto) 1 block, Prehospital care 1 block, Peds Diagnostic Imaging 0.5 blocks, Research 1 block, Toxicology 1 block, Elective 2 blocks

Longitudinal Blocks: Pediatric PoCUS, Leadership

RCPSC PEM for Emergency Medicine Trained

Year 1: PEM 6.5 blocks, Peds Ortho 1 block, Peds Anesthesia 1 block, Research 0.5 blocks, PICU 1 block, Peds Plastics 1 block, Elective 1 block, NICU 1 block

Year 2: PEM 6.5 blocks, Trauma (Sunnybrook Hospital Toronto) 1 block, Ambulatory Peds 1 block, Prehospital care 1 block, Peds Diagnostic Imaging 0.5 blocks, Research 1 block, Toxicology 1 block, Elective 1 blocks

Longitudinal Blocks: Pediatric PoCUS, Leadership

Program Leadership

Dr. Emma Burns, Program Director would be pleased to meet with you to discuss the RCPSC PEM program.

Contact our program coordinator: Leigh Thibideau (Leigh.Thibideau@iwk.nshealth.ca) for a meeting.

Throughout the program there is graded responsibility for all fellows even as we transition into a Competency by Design structure. Periodic exams both written and oral are provided for programmatic feedback, to document resident progress, and to identify areas requiring greater attention. Upon successful completion of this program, fellows are eligible to sit the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Pediatric Emergency Medicine oral and written examinations.

PEM Curriculum